President-elect Donald Trump said on the anniversary of the Capitol insurrection that President Joe Biden is "doing everything possible to make the transition as difficult as possible."
Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, told Newsweek in an email: "It's despicable what Joe Biden is doing, and he is going against the will of the people who gave President Trump a historic mandate to Make America Great Again."
Newsweek also reached out to Trump's transition team and the White House via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Trump will take office in two weeks and Congress' certification of his victory comes four years after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 and tried to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election.
It is customary for outgoing presidents to attend their successors' inauguration to facilitate a peaceful transfer of power.
Trump deviated from that tradition when he did not attend Biden's inauguration in 2021.
What To Know
"Biden is doing everything possible to make the TRANSITION as difficult as as possible, from Lawfare such as has never been seen before, to costly and ridiculous Executive Orders on the Green New Scam and other money wasting Hoaxes," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump's post came after Biden announced his decision to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters.
The president-elect was vocal in his support of the U.S. oil and natural gas industry and pledged during his 2024 campaign that the country would "drill, baby, drill" if he won the White House.
Trump's post also came after Biden announced that he would block Japan's Nippon Steel's takeover of U.S. Steel. The potential takeover was one of the most hotly contested issues of the 2024 presidential race.
Trump, meanwhile, is not a stranger to a tempestuous transition period. He repeatedly claimed, falsely, that he won the 2020 election and urged his supporters to protest the results of the presidential race.
During the 2024 election, Trump's campaign put off signing a memorandum of understanding with the White House, which facilitates the transition process.
Biden and Trump met at the Oval Office on November 15. Trump told the New York Post, addingthat he and Biden "really enjoyed seeing each other."
What People Are Saying
Trump's incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, told Axios: "White House chief of staff Jeff Zients has been very helpful. He has made great suggestions, helped make sure we stay on time with required functions, helped us navigate the labyrinth that is the Executive Office of the President, and been very professional"
What's Next
Trump will be inaugurated as the nation's 47th president on Monday, January 20.
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